"Welcome all to the mouth of my machine Step inside and watch it feed on Five senses and memories and at the other end Augmentation of what you put in."-- Downfall, from PileUP "I'd like to break the carbon copy streak of processed and manufactured music," he says, "I want to bring emotion back into the mainstream." Emotions, in this case doesn't mean drippy, self-obsessed wallowing. Derek Martinez' music is emotional and intensely personal but is, essentially, a reassertion of vitality. It's an acceptance of reality without losing sight of the good stuff, and of fighting the good fight. While a constant longing runs thematically through PileUP- a pulsing want for something lost, something denied or just something more, Martinez' songs are gleaming with hope. He is on the brink, within arm's reach and so are you. This fundamentally human predicament, expressed in lyrics that are sometimes playful, often pensive and always pure, has attracted a growing fanbase solely, and literally, through word of mouth. Perhaps even more alluring than his lyrics is a style shaped by years of eclectic musical exposure. An early appreciation for The Beatles, Santana, Grandmaster Flash and later, the proliferation of hip hop and grunge have informed Martinez' approach. His offerings on PileUP, however, are most apparently influenced by Eddie Vedder and Dave Matthews - an integration of styles that led to the varied and often surprising musicality of PileUP. From the staccato snap of "Downfall" to the slow and heavy beat of "Exit", the dynamic percussion frames Martinez' guitar, the centerpiece for what he calls "neo-folk" music. PileUP assembles Martinez' adventurous streaks without compromising a sense of direction and purpose, from the lively and frenetic "No.1" to the quiet sparseness of "Songs to Drive To - Pt I." "Recording PileUP was a long, arduous process," he says, " and a culmination of different phases in my life. These songs are about trying to fit in, about 'growing up' and about escape." Born and raised in Northern California, Martinez' first major foray into music was a collaboration with drummer Bryan Sakamoto, when Martinez decided that his music would - unlike much of the music that pervaded the early 90's - be focused on inspiring positive change. "This prompted a shift in focus from being just an entertainer to becoming an artist driven to create music that can heal." As this project, called Heavens To Betsy, was short lived, Martinez formed a 7-piece funk/rock band collectively known as Mad Hank. After being accepted to the University of Southern California's exclusive Thornton School of Music, he moved to Los Angeles where he found an artistic spark in singer/songwriters Jennifer Cordero and Jon Jon San Juan. Their monthly jam sessions at the local Highland Grounds prompted a creative freeflow and a surge of confidence that pushed PileUP to its completion. The writing and recording of the record spans over five years and was entirely a guerilla operation. Martinez played and recorded every instrument at his home. Independently released, PileUP is Martinez' first solo LP and he continues to perform the club circuit in Los Angeles, with recent and repeat performances in The Rainbow Room and Whisky-A-Gogo.